Fawdon, coal pits

This area was exploited for mining in the 18th century. A record of Kenton Colliery in 1732 lists five pits on the north side of Kenton on land worked by Mr. Blackett. Corner Pit in Wheat Close was 32 fathoms deep, a pit in First Fattening Pasture was 26 fathoms deep, a pit in Second Fattening Pasture was 27 fathoms deep, a pit in Barker's Close 26 fathoms deep and Caldwell Pit was 27 fathoms deep. The shafts accessed the Main Coal Seam. These fields are shown on an estate map of Kenton dated 1742. Hair (1839) states that pits were sunk in Fawdon from 1810 and were 48 fathoms deep to reach the High Main Seam. No pits are shown in these fields on Ordnance Survey maps but there is a mine shaft in the former Hillsview School field. This was found in 1997. It collapsed in 2000 and was in-filled and fenced off. It is around 51m deep and nearly 2m in diameter.